All Macra na Feirme competitions remain suspended. Where possible, competition closing dates and finals as set out in the 2019/2020 competitions calendar will be rescheduled for a future date, when the COVID-19 threat is reduced or eliminated.

We will follow the appropriate public health advice before confirming any rescheduled dates.

However, we can confirm that the following competitions have been cancelled and will not go ahead as scheduled in this calendar year:

  • Drama.
  • Volleyball.
  • Impromptu debating.
  • Tag rugby.
  • The safety and wellbeing of our members, staff and partners are the priority for our organisation and, as such, we have undertaken precautions and measures related to minimising the threat posed by COVID-19.

    We are acting in accordance with advice from the HSE and the chief medical officer and are monitoring the situation daily.

    The Macra na Feirme talent quest competition saw a great uptake with members, as 47 entries were received. The semi-finals drew over 7,000 viewers to our national Facebook page.

    Twenty-one acts made it through to the final, with a great response from members as they picked the member’s choice act to join the finalists. Cathy Clarke from Benbulben Macra in Sligo was chosen as the members choice act. Over 4,000 people tuned in to watch the final.

    Thank you to all the participants who have shown us amazing talent over the last two weeks. A huge thanks to our judges, guest judge Alan Jagoe, Meath’s national talent committee, our live final results host Claire Gough, our president Thomas Duffy and, of course, the competitions committee and Mairead Kowal in head office.

    Our five winners received a €100 One4all voucher each. Congratulations to all.

  • Solo instrumental: Alannah Conroy, Mountmellick Macra, Laois.
  • Recitation: Noel Crowley, Clonakilty Macra, Carbery.
  • Solo singing: Conor Brosnan, Killarney Macra, Kerry.
  • Wildcard: Ciara McDonald, Callan Macra, Kilkenny.
  • Comedy: William Hedigan, Ballyhoura Macra, Avondhu.
  • Macra na Feirme is on YouTube

    We are delighted to announce that our YouTube channel is up and running. We are currently trying to gather a collection of videos to create an archive of videos for clubs that are interested in competitions. If you have any videos that you would like to share with the competitions committee please email them to amanda.monahan@hotmail.com

    Ní neart go cur le chéile

    As restrictions continue to be tapered over the coming weeks, we wish our members well and ask that clubs and members adhere to social distancing protocols. Be kind to yourself and others.

    We have achieved so much and with the end in sight, we look forward to getting back to “normal” over the next few months.

    Thank you

    On behalf of the committee we extend a massive thank you to all our members who have engaged with competitions over the last year. Congratulations to all the winners this year, but it is the taking part that counts. Without clubs across the country engaging with the competitions calendar, we would be unable to roll out such a schedule. Thank you to all the competitions chairs and secretaries in each region, who play an integral role in this process.

    A special thank you to those members who engaged with the committee and helped out with the newsletter by answering questions for our interviews. We appreciate your help and support, especially as it played an integral part of our newsletter’s revamp over the last six months.

    Finally, thank you to Mairead Kowal and Stephanie Roy in national office. They were generous with their time, advice and organisation. They do so much work behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of competitions and to promote them.

    Best of luck to the incoming committee for 2020-21.